Kraft Paper Rolls: Wrapping, Void Fill and Moving Uses

Kraft paper is the simplest packing material in the stockroom. It is strong brown paper that wraps items, fills gaps and protects surfaces, it costs little and it needs no special equipment. You can use it at a shop counter, on a packing bench or when you move house.

Pack Solution sells kraft paper rolls in three versions: one wide roll for wrapping and two boxed rolls for void fill and smaller jobs. Further down, the rolls are set against honeycomb paper and loose fill, and you will find the tape that finishes a parcel packed mostly in paper.

Quick Picks: Kraft Paper And Paper Packaging

Start with a kraft paper roll for wrapping and void fill, seal the box with paper tape. Use honeycomb paper where an item needs cushioning. Packing peanuts are the loose fill option for awkward shapes.

Best for wrapping and void fill

Kraft Paper Rolls

Strong brown paper in a 90gsm standard roll or two 70gsm centre-feed rolls in dispenser boxes. Sold per roll.

• 500mm x 200m standard roll, 90gsm
• Centre-feed 200mm x 250m and 375mm x 300m, 70gsm
• Boxed rolls pull from the middle

From £25.00 ex VAT (£30.00 inc VAT)

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Best for sealing parcels packed in paper

Kraft Paper Tape

Brown kraft paper backed tape, a paper based alternative to plastic tape for sealing cardboard boxes.

• 48mm x 50m hotmelt or 75mm x 50m
• Packs of 6 rolls
• Matt brown paper finish

From £14.00 ex VAT (£16.80 inc VAT)

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Best for bottles, glass and cosmetics

Honeycomb Paper Rolls (80gsm)

Paper that expands into a honeycomb pattern when stretched, used as a paper based alternative to bubble wrap.

• 80gsm paper on 250m rolls
• 395mm or 500mm widths
• Sold per roll

From £28.00 ex VAT (£33.60 inc VAT)

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Key Facts

• There are three kraft paper rolls: a 500mm x 200m standard roll in 90gsm, and 200mm x 250m and 375mm x 300m centre-feed rolls in 70gsm.
• gsm means grams per square metre, so 90gsm is the heavier paper.
• Centre-feed rolls come in their own dispenser box and pull from the middle of the roll.
• Kraft paper tape is sold in packs of 6 rolls, 48mm x 50m hotmelt or 75mm x 50m.
• Honeycomb paper is 80gsm on 250m rolls in 395mm and 500mm widths.
• Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day, and Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free with no minimum.

What Is Kraft Paper And What Does gsm Mean?

Kraft paper is strong brown paper made for wrapping, protecting and packing. The gsm figure tells you the paper weight, in grams per square metre, so a higher number means heavier, stiffer paper.

Brown paper in 90gsm is the heavier option, so it suits furniture, framed items and covering surfaces. The 70gsm brown packing paper is lighter and easier to scrunch, so it works for filling gaps and wrapping small items. Both are the same sort of material, so pick whichever suits the job in hand, whether that is wrapping a large piece or filling a small gap.

A brown kraft paper roll is easy to store, because it sits upright in a cupboard or on a shelf, and a boxed centre-feed roll takes up very little bench space. A new seller can start with one roll, and a busy fulfilment line can keep refilling from the same one.

Brown paper is also a paper based option for customers who would rather open a parcel with paper inside it. That describes what is in the parcel and makes no claim about the environment.

Which Kraft Paper Roll Should You Buy?

Buy the 500mm x 200m standard roll for large items and surfaces, the 375mm x 300m centre-feed roll for void fill on a bench, and the 200mm x 250m centre-feed roll for small parcels. Each is sold as a single roll.

A kraft paper roll that sits in a box on the bench dispenses easily, so it suits a fulfilment line where one person packs all day. The standard kraft paper on rolls is the one for big jobs, where width counts.

Using Kraft Paper For Wrapping

Wrap each item in its own sheet, with the paper pulled snug and the ends folded in, then tape the join. Wrapping stops scuffs and keeps items from knocking together.

Brown wrapping paper also suits orders and gifts at a shop counter, where a brown paper roll mounted behind the till covers items quickly. It works for clothes, books, candles and small homeware, and it can separate layers of stacked products. The guide on how to package clothes for online orders has a worked example.

For breakables, wrap in kraft paper only as a first layer, then add proper cushioning. Honeycomb paper and bubble wrap both do that job better than plain paper, and the bubble wrap guide explains the sizes.

Paper can tear at sharp corners, so fold the corner over once before you wrap and add a second sheet. For long jobs, pull several lengths ahead of time so your hands stay free for packing.

Interleaving And Surface Protection

Interleaving means placing a sheet of paper between stacked items so they do not rub or stick together. Plates, picture frames, trays and flat-packed products all benefit, and the standard 90gsm roll is the better choice for covering a table, shelf or floor while you work.

Kraft Paper, Honeycomb Paper Or Packing Peanuts For Void Fill?

Use scrunched kraft paper for general void fill, honeycomb paper for items that need cushioning, and packing peanuts for irregular shapes. All three stop contents moving, and you can combine them in one box.

Kraft Paper As Void Fill

Scrunch lengths of paper and push them into the gaps so the contents cannot move. It costs little, and you control how tightly it packs, so it works for most boxes.

Honeycomb Paper As A Cushioning Wrap

Honeycomb paper is 80gsm paper that expands into a cushioning honeycomb pattern when you stretch it, and it is a paper based alternative to bubble wrap. It is sold in 395mm and 500mm widths on 250m rolls. Read honeycomb paper vs bubble wrap if you are weighing the two.

Packing Peanuts For Awkward Shapes

Packing peanuts are loose void fill. EcoFlo packing peanuts come in 5 cubic feet bags in white, blue Ultra and mixed colours, and the manufacturer describes EcoFlo as biodegradable. Pour a layer in the bottom of the box, place the item, then fill around and over it until nothing moves when you gently shake the closed box.

Best for irregular shaped items

EcoFlo Packing Peanuts

Loose fill that you pour into the box to stop contents shifting. The manufacturer describes EcoFlo as biodegradable.

• 5 cubic feet bags
• White, Blue EcoFlo Ultra or Mixed Colour
• Lightweight loose fill

From £13.00 ex VAT (£15.60 inc VAT)

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Peanuts are lightweight, so they add little to postage weight. The compromise is that they are loose, so kraft paper is tidier when you want to unpack on a clean surface.

Kraft Paper For Moving House

Packing paper for moving is mainly used to wrap plates, glasses and ornaments, and to line and fill boxes. A couple of rolls usually covers a whole house.

Wrap each plate or mug separately, pile wrapped items into a box on edge, and fill the top with scrunched sheets. A 375mm x 300m centre-feed roll tears off neat lengths, and the standard 500mm roll is useful for covering furniture surfaces and floors. A roll also saves buying separate sheets, because you can cut it to any size.

Choose boxes to match. The moving boxes guide covers sizes and numbers, and double wall boxes suit heavy loads such as books and kitchenware.

Sealing The Box With Paper Tape

This tape seals a cardboard box and has a paper backing instead of plastic film. Use the 48mm x 50m hotmelt roll for everyday boxes and the 75mm x 50m roll for larger boxes.

Paper tape is a paper based alternative to plastic tape, and it suits parcels that are packed in paper with a natural kraft finish. Both rolls are 50m long and sold in packs of 6. The 48mm size uses a hotmelt adhesive on a brown kraft paper backing, and the 75mm roll has the same look in a wider format. Check the width before you buy a tape gun, because the guns in the range take 50mm or 75mm tape.

If you prefer plastic tape for heavy cartons, you can also browse the full packing tapes collection.

How To Pack A Box Using Paper

Line the box, wrap the item, fill the gaps and seal. This method works for most boxes and needs only paper.

1. Pick a box that leaves a little room around the item for paper.
2. Cover the base with a layer of scrunched kraft paper.
3. Wrap the item in a sheet, folding the ends in and taping the join.
4. Place the item in the box and fill every side with scrunched paper.
5. Shake the closed box gently; if anything moves, add more paper.
6. Seal with kraft paper tape across the centre seam and both edges.

Paper Packing Checklist

• Choose the 90gsm standard roll for large items and surfaces.
• Choose a centre-feed roll for void fill at a packing bench.
• Use honeycomb paper for glass, bottles and cosmetics.
• Keep a bag of packing peanuts for irregular shaped items.
• Seal with kraft paper tape in the width that suits the box.
• Match any tape gun to the tape width.
• Shake the closed box before it leaves the bench.

Wrap-Up: Choosing Kraft Paper For Your Parcels

For most jobs, a kraft paper roll for wrapping and void fill plus paper tape to seal the box, covers it. Honeycomb paper or packing peanuts handle fragile or awkward items.

Browse the protective packaging collection to put your paper kit together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is kraft paper used for in packing?

Kraft paper is strong brown paper used to wrap products, fill empty space in boxes, interleave stacked items and protect surfaces. It is also popular as packing paper for moving, where it wraps plates, glasses and ornaments before they go into boxes.

What size kraft paper roll should I buy?

There are three kraft paper rolls: a 500mm x 200m standard roll in 90gsm, and centre-feed rolls in 70gsm at 200mm x 250m and 375mm x 300m. Choose the wide roll for large items and a centre-feed roll for void fill on a bench.

Is 70gsm or 90gsm brown paper heavier?

90gsm is heavier. gsm means grams per square metre, so the 90gsm standard roll has more paper weight than the 70gsm centre-feed rolls. The heavier paper suits large items and surfaces, and the lighter paper is easier to scrunch for void fill.

Can I use brown paper instead of packing peanuts?

Yes, for many parcels. Scrunch lengths of paper and push them into the gaps so the contents cannot move. Packing peanuts pour around irregular shaped items more easily, so some packers use paper for most boxes and keep a bag of peanuts for awkward shapes.

What is paper tape and what is it made from?

Paper tape is packing tape with a brown kraft paper backing instead of plastic film. It seals cardboard boxes with a natural paper finish. The 48mm x 50m roll has a hotmelt adhesive, and a 75mm x 50m roll is also available in packs of 6.

How do I use a centre-feed kraft paper roll?

A centre-feed roll is pulled from the middle rather than the outside, and ours come in their own dispenser box. Place the box on the packing bench, pull out a length of paper and tear it off. It suits void fill and wrapping small and medium items.

Shop for This Job

• Protective Packaging
• Packing Tapes

Related Guides

• Moving Boxes Guide: Sizes, Strength and How Many You Need
• Bubble Wrap Guide: Small vs Large Bubbles, Rolls and Uses
• Honeycomb Paper vs Bubble Wrap: Pros, Cons and Uses
• How to Package Clothes for Shipping in the UK
• How to Pack Ceramics and Glass for Posting

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